Talking to Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Hoang Tuan - manager of singer Dan Truong said that he always proactively contacts authors, asks for permission and fulfills financial obligations before using songs in official performance programs.
According to Mr. Hoang Tuan, even when singing just one song, artists still need to agree with the copyright owner. The content of the agreement must clearly define the scope of exploitation, for example, only performing on stage or being released on YouTube and digital music platforms.
I always contact the author to ask for covers and pay for performances. If they do not agree, we will not use them," Dan Truong's manager said.
Some situations arise randomly, such as the audience suddenly asking the artist to sing a short passage, the singer may find it difficult to handle right on stage. However, with the performance that has been prepared and put into the official program, Dan Truong's side affirmed that they will always carry out the application procedure.
In case the author has passed away or the song has appeared for a long time, the user can contact the Vietnam Center for Protection of Music Copyright to find out the owner of the rights and fulfill related obligations.
Mr. Hoang Tuan said that the agreement should not just stop at words. When a young artist wants to cover and exploit music under his management, the two sides often make written confirmations. Issues such as the scope of use, performance, posting on YouTube and profit rights must be agreed upon.
According to Dan Truong's manager, it is worrying that some individuals and units know the copyright processing process on the platform but still intentionally post unlicensed music. When the owner sends a notice, they continue to complain to prolong the processing process or find ways to restore the content.
He called this a "trick" to overcome copyright control. Owners who do not monitor, respond or provide documents proving the platform is on time are at risk of disadvantage, while violating videos continue to exist and generate revenue.
Why dare they act carelessly, because they know the complaint process. If the owner does not know how to handle it or cannot provide proof papers, the publisher can continue to exploit it," said Mr. Hoang Tuan.
When he discovers an individual using a song under his management on YouTube without permission, he often sends a notice of copyright infringement and asks the uploader to contact him for resolution. In cases of lack of understanding and goodwill to remedy, the level of handling he describes as relatively light, sometimes only symbolic.
However, if the violating unit intentionally repeats it many times or continues to exploit it after being warned, Dan Truong's manager said that he will collect documents and sue to protect his rights. According to him, the money for handling violations is not the main source of income; the important thing is to create a habit of asking for permission and respecting the efforts of the creator.
Musician Hamlet Truong also said that he had encountered many cases of using his songs and then attaching them to the official page, creating the feeling that it was allowed. Due to the large number, he often lets the Vietnam Center for Protection of Music Copyright automatically review based on the name and melody. If the user completes their obligations and the song is not entangled in a exclusive agreement, the content can continue to be exploited.
Meanwhile, musician Nguyen Minh Cuong said that arbitrarily putting works online, singing without permission or using them for free is not only related to the law but also reflects the culture of behavior towards creative products.
The male musician hopes that management agencies, digital platforms and the user community will coordinate more closely. According to him, copyright respect needs to become a habit, instead of only being noticed when disputes occur or a product is requested to be removed.
